The Hang Seng added 18 points, or 0.1%, to close at 25,946 on Thursday, marking a fourth straight session of gains amid strength mainly from financials. Sentiment was lifted by Beijing's new plan to spur consumption, including rural consumer goods upgrades and support for sectors such as pets and toys. A modest rise in mainland stocks also aided risk appetite, amid optimism toward the domestic AI sector. On the data front, however, October figures showed China's industrial profits dropped for the first time in three months, reflecting weak domestic demand and export challenges. Trading was...
On Tuesday morning, November 18, 2025, sentiment on Asian markets remained cautious following a sharp decline on Wall Street and concerns about the Fed's interest rate direction. Most indexes in the region moved lower, with investors choosing to reduce risk ahead of the release of Nvidia's earnings report and US employment data, which was delayed due to the longest government shutdown in history. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed down around 0.1% at 50,323.91, while the Topix index also weakened. The greatest pressure came from tourism and retail stocks after China issued a travel warning to...
The Nikkei closed down 0.9% to 49,890.32, following Wall Street's decline on Monday. Selling pressure was felt across most of the Japanese stock market, as risk-off sentiment reemerged, or investors' tendency to avoid risky assets amid global uncertainty. StoneX senior market analyst Matt Simpson explained that market participants are returning to caution following the decline in Wall Street stocks. Investors' primary focus is now on Nvidia's earnings release due on Wednesday, as the chip giant's results have the potential to significantly impact technology stocks and the overall direction...
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) hit another weak patch on Monday, backsliding nearly 500 points and slipping back below the 47,000 handle to start the new trading week with many of the same questions from last week going unanswered. The AI segment continues to see new challenges amid concerns about endpoint revenues, and investors are hoping that a kickstart to official data sources following the reopening of the federal government will help push the Federal Reserve (Fed) to deliver a third straight interest rate cut in December. Alphabet shares supported by Berkshire...
The three major stock averages in the US swung around the flatline on Monday, as investors braced for the resumption of economic data releases from major statistical agencies following the end of last week's government shutdown. Key reports including the jobs report and trade data are due this week and could influence the Fed's policy decision next month, at a time when many policymakers are growing more sceptical about the need for additional rate cuts. Markets are currently pricing in about a 43% chance of a quarter-point cut in December. Meanwhile, Nvidia is set to report quarterly...
Japanese stocks edged lower on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.1% to 50,324 and the broader Topix index down 0.37%. The main pressure came from tourism and retail stocks after geopolitical tensions with China escalated. Beijing warned Japan not to interfere in the Taiwan issue and also urged its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to Japan. A Japanese diplomat is reportedly planning a visit to China to try to calm the situation, but the market remains nervous. Travel-related stocks were the first to suffer from this sentiment. Japan Airlines and ANA Holdings fell 3.8% and 3.1%,...